Kino am Olympiasee: Munich's Family-Friendly Lakeside Open-Air Cinema
Kino am Olympiasee runs every summer on the open lawn behind the Olympic swimming hall at Coubertinplatz 1, right on the Olympiasee lake in Olympiapark. The 2026 season runs 20 May through 12 September, with gates opening around 17:30 on weekdays and around 15:00 on Fridays, weekends, and holidays (roughly 30 minutes before the first screening). It's fully cashless: there's no ticket counter on site, so you book seats through Kinoheld in advance, choosing from numbered categories like Deckchair Parquet, Deckchair Tier, Love Seat (for two), the covered Olympic Lounge, or a ground-level Picnic Cinema spot, with prices starting at 9.50 EUR. Food and drinks work the same way: you can bring your own snacks in unbreakable packaging, but not your own drinks, everything else (including alcohol) gets ordered and paid for online or at on-site terminals ahead of time. Beyond evening film screenings (mostly original-version releases), the program regularly includes a dedicated kids' slot, live comedy shows, and major sports broadcasts on the big screen, in 2026 that includes the FIFA World Cup final on 19 July. The easiest way in is U3 to Olympiazentrum followed by a short walk, or Bus 173 to Eissportstadion.
The Official Rule
Kino am Olympiasee turns the lawn behind Olympiapark’s Olympic swimming hall into an open-air cinema every summer, right on the water, and knowing the actual mechanics (booking, food rules, arrival times) before you go makes a first family visit considerably smoother.
The 2026 season runs 20 May through 12 September. The official Kino am Olympiasee site confirms the venue sits at Coubertinplatz 1, on the open space next to the Olympic swimming hall, directly on the Olympiasee lake. Gates open daily around 17:30 on weekdays, and around 15:00 on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays, roughly 30 minutes ahead of the first screening.
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Season | 20 May – 12 September 2026 |
| Gates open | ~17:30 weekdays, ~15:00 Fridays, weekends, and holidays |
| Tickets | From 9.50 EUR, numbered seats, Kinoheld only, no on-site counter |
| Payment | Fully cashless, cards/online only |
| Own food | Allowed, unbreakable packaging only |
| Own drinks | Not allowed, order on site instead |
| Getting there | U3 to Olympiazentrum, or Bus 173 to Eissportstadion |
There’s no ticket counter, so booking ahead genuinely matters. Kinoheld’s official ticket platform confirms seating is sold by numbered category rather than open lawn access: Deckchair Parquet and Deckchair Tier are the standard loungers, Love Seat covers two people together, the Olympic Lounge is covered seating, and Picnic Cinema is a ground-level spot for those who’d rather bring a blanket. The official Info page confirms prices start at 9.50 EUR and the entire venue runs cashless, book food and drinks online in advance or use the payment terminals on site, there’s no cash option anywhere on the grounds.
Food rules are more specific than most first-time visitors expect. The same official Info page confirms you’re allowed to bring your own food, but only in unbreakable packaging, and you are not permitted to bring your own drinks under any circumstances, including for children, everything to drink has to be ordered and paid for through the venue’s cashless system.
The program goes well beyond evening OV film screenings. Olympiapark München’s official event page and muenchen-online.de’s 2026 open-air cinema roundup both confirm the regular schedule includes a dedicated kids’ screening slot, live comedy shows, and major sports broadcasts, in 2026 that includes the FIFA World Cup final on 19 July, worth knowing if your family wants to watch it together outdoors rather than at home.
What Real People Say
Visitors consistently point to the U3 stop Olympiazentrum as the most convenient way in, followed by a short walk to the lakeside grounds, several specifically mention it beating the Bus 173 route to Eissportstadion when arriving with kids or a stroller.
Families who’ve booked the Deckchair or Picnic Cinema categories describe the lakeside setting itself as the main draw, several note that arriving right at gate-opening time (rather than closer to the screening) gives you a calmer walk in and more time to settle kids before the film starts, especially on Fridays, weekends, and holidays when gates open earlier at 15:00.
Step by Step
- Check the current program on Kinoheld or the official site before you commit to a date, the schedule mixes evening OV films, a kids’ slot, comedy shows, and sports broadcasts, so confirm what’s actually showing.
- Book your seat category in advance, there’s no ticket counter on site and popular screenings sell out, choose Deckchair Parquet/Tier, Love Seat, Olympic Lounge, or Picnic Cinema based on how you want to sit.
- Plan your food and drink separately: pack your own snacks in unbreakable containers if you like, but budget for on-site drinks since you can’t bring your own.
- Arrive around gate-opening time (roughly 30 minutes before the first screening) rather than right at showtime, especially with young children who need time to settle.
- Take U3 to Olympiazentrum and walk the short distance to Coubertinplatz 1, or use Bus 173 to Eissportstadion if that fits your route better.
Compliance Note
This page explains the general operating rules and 2026 season dates for Kino am Olympiasee as published by the venue and Olympiapark München, current as of mid-2026. It is not a substitute for the live program schedule, which changes throughout the season. Confirm specific film titles, showtimes, and ticket availability directly on Kinoheld or the official Kino am Olympiasee site before you go.
FAQ & Common Pitfalls
Can we just show up and buy tickets at the gate?
No, genuinely plan ahead instead. Kino am Olympiasee has no ticket counter on site, seats are numbered by category, and popular screenings do sell out. Book online through Kinoheld before you go, the same cashless rule applies to food and drink, so pre-order or use the on-site payment terminals rather than expecting to pay with cash once you're there.
Can we bring snacks and drinks for the kids ourselves?
Partly. You're allowed to bring your own food as long as it's in unbreakable packaging, so a box of crackers or fruit is fine. Drinks are the exception, you can't bring your own, everything to drink (including for kids) has to be ordered and paid for on site through the cashless system.
Is there anything for younger children, or is this really just an adult evening-film venue?
The regular program includes a dedicated kids' screening slot alongside the evening films aimed at adults, so it's worth checking the current schedule on Kinoheld or the official site for family-appropriate showtimes rather than assuming every evening is late-start adult programming.
What's the easiest way to get there with kids and a stroller?
Take the U3 to Olympiazentrum, it's the stop visitors consistently point to as the most convenient, followed by a short walk to the lakeside grounds. Bus 173 to Eissportstadion is the alternative if that fits your route better. Either way you're arriving at Coubertinplatz 1, the open lawn behind the Olympic swimming hall.